Electric power conditioning device and method for conditioning electric power

Abstract

The electric power conditioning device, connected to an apparatus and an electric storage device in a house, comprises an electric power receiving section, a communication section and an operation section. The electric power receiving section, connected to a commercial power supply, acquires a total electric power consumption amount of the commercial power supply. The operation section makes comparison as to whether an integrated value obtained by integrating the total electric power consumption amount and an electric power consumption amount which is an amount of electric power expected to be consumed when the apparatus is operated exceeds a predetermined value. When the integrated value does not exceed, the operation section transmits a use permission signal to the apparatus via the communication section. When the integrated value exceeds, the electric power conditioning device transmits to the electric storage device a supply electric power inquiring signal via the communication section.

1 . An electric power conditioning device which is connected to an apparatus and an electric storage device installed in a house, comprising:
 an electric power receiving section;   a communication section; and   an operation section,   
       wherein
 the electric power receiving section is connected to a commercial power supply to acquire an electric power consumption amount of the commercial power supply, 
 the communication section receives information from the apparatus that the apparatus is about to be activated, 
 the operation section calculates a first integrated value from an electric power consumption amount of the commercial power supply and an amount of electric power that is generated by activating the apparatus, and 
 the communication section transmits to the apparatus a use permission signal for permitting the use of the apparatus when the first integrated value is not larger than a predetermined value, and the communication section transmits to the electric storage device a supply electric power amount inquiry signal for inquiring information regarding an amount of electric power suppliable by the electric storage device when the first integrated value is larger than a predetermined value. 
 
     
     
         2 . The electric power conditioning device according to  claim 1 , wherein the information regarding the amount of electric power suppliable by the electric storage device includes an amount of electric power suppliable in a predetermined period. 
     
     
         3 . The electric power conditioning device according to  claim 2 , wherein the communication section transmits a predetermined period inquiry signal for inquiring the predetermined period while transmitting the supply electric power amount inquiry signal. 
     
     
         4 . The electric power conditioning device according to  claim 2 , wherein the information regarding the predetermined period includes a value specified by the apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The electric power conditioning device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 when the communication section receives the information regarding the suppliable electric power amount after transmitting the supply electric power amount inquiry signal to the electric storage device, the operation section calculates the first integrated value and the amount of electric power suppliable by the electric storage device, thereby to determine whether or not the apparatus is usable, and   the communication section transmits the use permission signal to the apparatus when the operation section determines the apparatus as usable, and the communication section transmits a use prohibition signal to the apparatus when the operation section determines the apparatus as unusable.   
     
     
         6 . The electric power conditioning device according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the operation section calculates a second integrated value by subtracting the amount of electric power suppliable by the electric storage device from the first integrated value, and   the operation section determines the apparatus as usable when the second integrated value is not larger than the predetermined value, and the operation section determines the apparatus as unusable when the second integrated value is larger than the predetermined value.   
     
     
         7 . A method for conditioning electric power in an electric power conditioning device which is connected to a commercial power supply to acquire an electric power consumption amount of the commercial power supply, while communicating with an apparatus and an electric storage device installed in a house to adjust whether or not the apparatus is usable, comprising:
 receiving information that the apparatus is about to be activated;   calculating an integrated value from an electric power consumption amount of the commercial power supply and an amount of electric power that is generated by activating the apparatus; and   transmitting a use permission signal to the apparatus in the case of the integrated value being not larger than a predetermined value, and transmitting to the electric storage device a supply electric power amount inquiry signal for inquiring information regarding an amount of electric power suppliable by the electric storage device in the case of the integrated value being larger than the predetermined value.